THE RECLAMATIO
cultivation, it will mean a population
in the western half of the United States
almost as great as that now in the east
ern half of the country. Figure 6
shows the areas where it is probable
that irrigation can be
carried on, or where it is
now being carried on and
where it can further be
extended. If the West
is developed to the extent
that all these patches in
dicate, we will have a
wonderful change in the
social and commercial re
lations of the United
States as a whole.
The comparatively reg
ular distribution of these
irrigable lands in each
state is notable.
The
entire extent of irriga
tion development in each
state is of course very
small, but if I am cor
rectly informed, the pro
ceeds from the small irri
gated area in Colorado
are already greater than
from the mines.
While it is not likely
that a very large propor
tion of the arid West will
ever be reclaimed, yet
nearly all the land has
value in one way or an
other. The stock raising
or grazing industry will
always occupy eighty or
ninety per cent of the
Top of
arid lands of the West.
It is the great industry as
Attempts to g
far as area is concerned,
unsuccessful, M
and an assistar
but in value of products days succeeded
is not as great as is the tunnel (page 27
cultivation of the soil.
THE RECLAMATION FUND
The reclamation fund comes from the
disposal of lands in thirteen states and
three territories, and the amount is
N OF THE WEST
23
different widely in the different states.
The law provides that so far as practi
cable the amount shall be spent in the
state where it originates, but in fact
the available funds are almost always
Torrence Falls, Gunnison Canyon
go down Gunnison Canyon by boats having been
MrFellows, an engineer of the Reclamation Service,
it, by floating, swimming, and climbing for ten
in getting through and locating the site of the
inversely apportioned to the needs of
any one state.
From Nevada, the state having the
largest opportunity for development,
the amount of money is represented by